Solenoid occlusion device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for delivery of a ferrofluid to a targeted treatment site, such as delivery of a ferroadhesive to a pathological fistula to occlude the fistula. A device includes a catheter having a lumen and a distal opening. A hollow solenoid is coupled to a distal section of the catheter, and a hollow core of the solenoid allows passage of a ferrofluid through the catheter and through the hollow core so that it may exit past the distal end of the hollow solenoid. The solenoid may be selectively actuated to maintain or control the position of the delivered ferrofluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A delivery device configured for delivering a ferrofluid, the device comprising:
 a catheter having a lumen extending to a distal opening at a distal end of the catheter; 
 a magnet coupled to the catheter at a distal section of the catheter such that the catheter is configured to deliver the ferrofluid past the magnet to a desired fluid treatment site, wherein the magnet provides a magnetic field having strength sufficient to hold a bolus of the ferrofluid at the desired treatment site; and 
 an ejection mechanism configured to eject the ferrofluid from the magnet, wherein the ejection mechanism is located at the distal end of the catheter. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the magnet is a rare earth magnet. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a solenoid. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ejection mechanism is a plunger. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ejection mechanism is a disconnectable portion of the catheter. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet has a hollow core configured to enable passage of the ferrofluid through the hollow core to the distal end of the magnet. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the catheter extends at least partially into the hollow core toward the distal end of the magnet. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the distal section of the catheter includes a tapered section and an outer diameter of the catheter is substantially aligned with an outer diameter of the magnet. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet has a length within a range of 1 to 3 cm. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein, at least at a distal section of the device, the device has an inner diameter within a range of 0.5 to 2 mm. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet has an outer diameter within a range of 1.5 to 4 mm. 
     
     
       13. A method of delivering a ferrofluid to a targeted treatment site using the device of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 positioning the magnet coupled to the distal end of the catheter near the targeted treatment site; 
 delivering an amount of the ferrofluid through the catheter and the magnet to the targeted treatment site, wherein the amount of the ferrofluid passes through a portion of the catheter and the magnet simultaneously; and 
 controlling a position of the ferrofluid using the magnetic field generated by the magnet. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein controlling the position of the ferrofluid includes maintaining the position of the ferrofluid until an adhesive in the ferrofluid has set. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive is a ferroadhesive. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising ejecting the ferrofluid from the portion of the catheter and the magnet. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein controlling the position of the ferrofluid includes constantly applying the magnetic field generated by the magnet. 
     
     
       19. A delivery device configured for delivering a ferroadhesive to a targeted pathological fistula in order to occlude the fistula, the device comprising:
 a catheter having a lumen extending to a distal opening at a distal end of the catheter; and 
 a magnet coupled to the catheter at a distal section of the catheter, the magnet having a bore that encompasses at least a portion of the catheter, wherein the magnet provides a magnetic field having strength sufficient to hold a bolus of the ferroadhesive at the targeted fistula until the ferroadhesive has set, wherein the catheter extends at least partially into a hollow core toward the distal end of the magnet. 
 
     
     
       20. A delivery device configured for delivering a ferrofluid, the device comprising:
 a catheter having a lumen extending to a distal opening at a distal end of the catheter; 
 a magnet coupled to the catheter at a distal section of the catheter such that the catheter is configured to deliver the ferrofluid past the magnet toward a desired fluid treatment site; and 
 an ejection mechanism configured to eject the ferrofluid from the magnet, wherein the ejection mechanism is located at the distal end of the catheter.